Tag: Dementia

According to research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while the brain requires glucose for energy, overconsumption of sugar, like that found in candy, can have a significant negative impact on brain function and mood. This overconsumption can lead to a cycle of cravings, addiction-like behavior, and impaired cognitive function.

According to the World Health Organization, pellagra remains endemic in certain regions where limited diets are common. This condition, the disease due to vitamin B3 deficiency, can cause severe and widespread symptoms if left untreated.

Pellagra, from the Italian for 'rough skin', is a nutritional disease that historically plagued populations with limited diets. It is defined as a systemic illness resulting from a severe deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3) or its precursor, tryptophan. While once epidemic, especially in the American South, the disease is now rare in developed countries but persists in regions with food insecurity.

First identified in the 18th century, the disease now known as pellagra was once endemic in parts of Europe and the American South. Pellagra is the name of the disease caused by vitamin B3 deficiency, which is also known as niacin deficiency. Left untreated, it can lead to severe and systemic health problems affecting the skin, digestive tract, and nervous system.

Historically, pellagra was responsible for over 100,000 deaths in the American South, a time when many lacked niacin due to poor diet. This once-common and devastating condition is caused by a severe vitamin B3 deficiency, profoundly affecting multiple body systems, including the skin, digestive tract, and nervous system.

Historically, severe niacin deficiency affected millions in impoverished communities globally. Pellagra, caused by a lack of vitamin B3, is the systemic disease known for the classic symptoms of diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and if left untreated, death.

Studies reveal that vitamin D receptors are present throughout the human brain, impacting various neurological functions, including development, cognition, and neurotransmitter synthesis. Once thought to only impact bone health, vitamin D is now understood as a vital neuroactive steroid with widespread effects on brain chemistry and protection.

A staggering one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia, a figure that has inspired extensive research into modifiable risk factors. A growing body of evidence suggests that what you eat is critical, demonstrating **how can your nutrition lead to Alzheimer's disease** through mechanisms like inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

According to the World Health Organization, up to 40% of dementia cases may be influenced by modifiable risk factors, with diet playing a significant role in prevention and management. The food we eat can either protect or harm our brains by affecting key biological mechanisms linked to neurodegeneration.

Observational studies have shown a concerning link between low folate levels and cognitive decline, with some research indicating older adults with low serum folate face a significantly higher dementia risk. This has fueled scientific interest into whether supplementing with folic acid can bolster brain health and cognitive function, but the answer is more complex than it appears.